Love is the only proper and adequate attitude towards every person. - St. John Paul II

317,569 New Yorkers Over 85 Will Need Help Paying for a Caregiver

I did some research using data from the Center for American Progress, World Population Review, the US Census, and the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance. The goal was to find out how many New Yorkers over 85 years of age do not have long term care insurance and are not eligible for Medicaid. It was difficult to get an exact number, but through some extrapolation, I was able to determine that the answer is roughly a little over 675,000 people. I then figured out that roughly 358,000 of these people have an annual income of $150,000 or more. Since the average live-in caregiver costs $72,000 per year, these people may probably get by in getting some kind of care giving assistance. What surprised me is the remaining 317,569 elderly New Yorkers over 85 years of age. These 317,569 seniors make too much to be eligible for Medicaid, too little to be able to afford a full time live-in caregiver, and do not have long term care insurance. Since the average person has only about $350,000 in savings, I would also say that almost all of the 317,569 seniors have very little disposable income that can be used towards senior care. Our sad experience also shows that their children often do not assist in paying for the care, if they have children. These 317,569 will have to get creative, because the government is not addressing their needs. You either have to be below the poverty line, or be one of the 17.4% of New Yorkers who earn more than $150,000 per year. It is my hope that someday, I will be able to help this group that the government has forgotten somehow. If you have any ideas that might enable me to do so, please write to me. We looked all over for grants that could help fund this population, with no avail. God bless everyone.